Very high damping body mount, subframe mount or engine mount with bolt-through construction

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic mount has an upper support member and a lower support member. An upper elastomeric spring and a lower elastomeric spring are disposed between the upper support member and the lower support member to define an upper fluid chamber and a lower fluid chamber. A channel extends between the upper and lower chambers. During compression and extension of the hydraulic mount, fluid transfers between the upper and lower chamber to provide a damping force for the hydraulic mount.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/831,873, filed on Jul. 19, 2006. The disclosure of the aboveapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to body mounts, subframe mounts, enginemounts or other similar type mounting systems. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to a mounting system with a very high dampinglevel which includes a bolt-through construction.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Fluid filled vibration damping mounts are utilized for automotive enginemounts, subframe mounts and body mounts. These damping mounts couple twocomponents together while damping the vibrations between the components.Typically there is an upper mount and a lower mount precompressedagainst each other prior to the working load being applied to themounting system.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides the art with a hydraulic mount whichincludes two chambers and an interconnecting channel extending betweenthe two channels. The damping of the mount is achieved by the resonanceof the mass of the fluid in the connecting channel. The tuning for themount is accomplished by adjusting the length and cross-sectional areaof the connecting channel.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the mount in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the mount illustrated in FIG. 1in a free state;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the mount illustrated in FIG. 1in a compressed state;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a mount in accordance withanother embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the mount shown in FIG. 4 takenin a plane 90° to the plane illustrated in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a mount in accordance withanother embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. There isillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 a mount in accordance with the presentdisclosure which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.Mount 10 comprises an inner tube 12, an annular connector 14, and innerring 16, an upper cup 18, a bottom cup 20, an outer tube 22, an upperelastomeric spring 24, a lower elastomeric spring 26 and a channelretainer 28.

Inner tube 12 comprises a cylindrical portion 40 and an annular flange42. The upper surface of annular flange 42 engages and supports theupper component such as the engine, the vehicle body or the subframebeing mounted to the lower component such as the frame or chassis of thevehicle. Cylindrical portion 40 is adapted to receive a mounting boltfor the bolt-through design for mount 10.

Annular connector 14 comprises a cylindrical portion 44 which engagescylindrical portion 40 of inner tube 12 and an annular portion 46 whichforms a portion of a sealed upper chamber 48 as discussed below. Innerring 16 is disposed around cylindrical portion 44 of annular connector14 and is disposed between annular flange 42 of inner tube 12 andannular portion 46 of annular connector 14. Inner ring 16 helps totransfer the load of the upper component from inner tube 12 to annularconnector 14 as discussed below. Inner tube 12, annular connector 14 andinner ring 16 define an upper support member for the upper component.

Upper cup 18 is an annular member which encircles annular connector 14to also form a portion of upper chamber 48. Upper elastomeric spring 24is bonded to both inner ring 16 and upper cup 18 to complete theformation of upper chamber 48. Upper cup 18 includes an attachmentflange 50 which is formed around bottom cup 20 during the assembly ofmount 10. Bottom cup 20 comprises an annular portion 52 which forms aportion of a sealed lower chamber 54 and a cylindrical portion 56 whichengages outer tube 22. The lower surface of bottom cup 20 engages andsupports the lower component to which the upper component is beingattached. The lower end of outer tube 22 is formed over cylindricalportion 56 of bottom cup 20 during the assembly of mount 10. Upper cup18, bottom cup 20 and outer tube 22 define a lower support member forthe lower component.

Lower elastomeric spring 26 is bonded to outer tube 22 and is alsobonded to a retention ring 60 which engages bottom cup 20. Lowerelastomeric spring 26 completes the formation of sealed lower chamber54. Lower elastomeric spring 26 defines one or more fluid channels 62which extend between upper sealed chamber 48 and lower sealed chamber54. As illustrated in the figures, mount 10 includes two fluid channels62. Channel retainer 28 is an annular member which is molded into lowerelastomeric spring 26 to provide support for fluid channels 62. Channelretainer 28 defines an attachment flange 64 which is formed over annularconnector 14 during the assembly of mount 10. An upper port 66 formedthrough annular portion 46 of annular connector 14 allows communicationbetween a respective fluid channel 62 and upper sealed chamber 48. Asillustrated in the figures, mount 10 includes two upper ports 66. Alower port 68 formed through lower elastomeric spring 26 and channelretainer 28 allows communication between a respective fluid channel 62and lower sealed chamber 54. As illustrated in the figures, mount 10includes two lower ports 68. Thus, as illustrated in the figures, thereare two communication passages between sealed upper chamber 48 andsealed lower chamber 54. Each communication passage is formed by arespective upper port 66, a respective fluid channel 62 and a respectivelower port 68.

Sealed upper chamber 48 and sealed lower chamber 54 and fluid channels62 are filled with a liquid. The damping characteristics for mount 10are achieved by the resonance of the mass of the fluid in fluid channels62. The very high damping characteristics of mount 10 are achieved byhaving sealed upper chamber 48 and sealed lower chamber 54 very large inrelation to the package size and also by the positive pumping action ofmount 10. In each direction of motion of mount 10 (up and down asillustrated in FIG. 2) one of sealed upper chamber 48 or sealed lowerchamber 54 is raised to a higher pressure than the other chamber 48 or54 leading to very effective pumping of the fluid in fluid channels 62.FIG. 2 illustrates mount 10 in a free state and FIG. 3 illustrates mount10 in a compressed state. It can be seen that as mount 10 is compressed,the load is supported by inner tube 12, inner ring 16 and annularconnector 14. This load increases the pressure in sealed lower chamber54 and lowers the pressure in sealed upper chamber 48 forcing fluid fromsealed lower chamber 54 through fluid channels 62 and into sealed upperchamber 48 due to the flexing of upper elastomeric spring 24 and lowerelastomeric spring 26. In a similar manner, when mount 10 is extended,inner tube 12, inner ring 16 and annular connector 14 move upwardincreasing the pressure in sealed upper chamber 48 and decreasing thefluid pressure in lower sealed chamber 54 forcing fluid from sealedupper chamber 48 through fluid channels 62 and into sealed lower chamber54 due to the flexing of upper elastomeric spring 24 and lowerelastomeric spring 26. In this way, the fluid in fluid channels 62 ismade to resonate as the upper surface of inner tube 12 moves up and downin relation to the lower surface of bottom cup 20.

The tuning for mount 10 is accomplished by changing the number, changingthe cross-sectional area and changing the length of fluid channels 62.Also, the design for ports 66 and 68 can be used to affect the tuningfor mount 10.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a mount in accordance with another embodimentof the present disclosure is indicated generally by the reference number110. Mount 110 comprises an inner tube 112, an annular connector 114, aninner ring 116, an upper cup 118, a bottom cup 120, an outer tube 122,an upper elastomeric spring 124, a lower elastomeric spring 126, anouter ring 128, an annular channel ring 130, a channel retainer 132, anapertured ring 134 and a floating ring 136.

Inner tube 112 comprises a cylindrical portion 140 and an annular flange142. The upper surface of annular flange 142 engages the upper componentsuch as the engine, the vehicle body or the subframe being mounted tothe lower component such as the frame or chassis of the vehicle.Cylindrical portion 140 is adapted to receive a mounting bolt for thebolt-through design for mount 110.

Annular connector 114 comprises a cylindrical portion 144 which engagescylindrical portion 140 of inner tube 112 and an annular portion 146which forms a portion of a sealed upper chamber 148 as discussed below.Inner ring 116 is disposed around cylindrical portion 144 of annularconnector 114 and is disposed between annular flange 142 of inner tube112 and annular portion 146 of annular connector 114. Inner ring 116helps to transfer the load of the upper component from inner tube 112 toannular connector 114 as discussed below.

Upper cup 118 is an annular member which encircles annular connector 114to also form a portion of upper chamber 148. Upper elastomeric spring124 is bonded to both inner ring 116 and upper cup 118 to complete theformation of upper chamber 148. Upper cup 118 includes an attachmentflange 150 which is formed around bottom cup 120 during the assembly ofmount 110. Bottom cup 120 comprises an annular portion 152 which forms aportion of a sealed lower chamber 154 and a cylindrical portion 156which engages outer tube 122. The lower surface of bottom cup 120engages the lower component to which the upper component is beingattached. The lower end of outer tube 122 is formed over cylindricalportion 156 during the assembly of mount 110.

Lower elastomeric spring 126 is bonded to outer tube 122 and is alsobonded to outer ring 128. Lower elastomeric spring 126 and outer ring128 complete the formation of sealed lower chamber 154.

Annular channel ring 130 is disposed around outer ring 128 and annularchannel ring 130 defines one or more fluid channels 162 which aredisposed between sealed upper chamber 148 and sealed lower chamber 154.One end of each fluid channel 162 is open to sealed upper chamber 148and the opposite end of each fluid channel 162 is open to sealed lowerchamber 154 to allow fluid flow between sealed fluid chambers 148 and154 as described below. Sealed upper chamber 148, sealed lower chamber154 and fluid channels 162 are filled with a liquid.

Channel retainer 132 is an annular member which is molded into lowerelastomeric spring 126. Channel retainer 132 defines an attachmentflange 164 which is formed over annular connector 114 during theassembly of mount 110. Apertured ring 134 is inserted into channelretainer 132. Apertured ring 134 defines a plurality of apertures 166extending through apertured ring 134. Apertures 166 arecircumferentially spaced around apertured ring 134 and each aperture 166can be a different diameter in order to tune mount 110. As illustratedin FIG. 4, two diametrically opposed apertures 166 have the samerelatively small diameter and are sized to provide a relatively stiffdamping. The two diametrically opposed apertures 166 located ninetydegrees from apertures 166 illustrated in FIG. 5 has a relatively largediameter which would then provide a relatively soft damping in thatradial direction as described below.

Floating ring 136 is located adjacent apertured ring 134 and it isallowed to move axially with respect to apertured ring 134 to allow flowthrough apertures 166 for small amplitudes of motion for mount 110.Annular portion 146 of annular connector 114 defines one or more fluidapertures 168 and channel retainer 132 defines one or more fluidapertures 170 which in conjunction with apertures 166 will allow fluidflow between sealed fluid chambers 148 and 154. The fluid flow betweensealed fluid chambers 148 and 154 through apertures 166, 168 and 170 iscontrolled by floating ring 136. For small compression and extensionmovements of mount 110, fluid will flow relatively unrestricted betweensealed fluid chambers 148 and 154. The amount of movement for relativelyunrestricted fluid flow through apertures 166, 168 and 170 will bedetermined by the axial movement of floating ring 136. Floating ring 136moves axially upward to seal against annular portion 146 of annularconnector 114 to close apertures 168 and floating ring 136 moves axiallydownward to seal against apertured ring 134 to seal apertures 166. Theamount of axial movement of floating ring 136 between apertured ring 134and annular portion 146 of annular connector 114 determines the amountof relatively unrestricted fluid flow. In this way, the high frequencyvibration characteristics of mount 110 are tuned to have a lowerstiffness and better isolation of noise and vibration. The highfrequency characteristics for mount 110 can be tuned by selecting thenumber and diameter of apertures 166 and 168. As illustrated in FIG. 4,relatively small apertures 166 are selected to provide a relativelystiff characteristic in the chosen plane. As illustrated in FIG. 5,relatively large apertures 166 are selected to provide a relatively softcharacteristic in the chosen plane.

The low frequency damping characteristics for mount 110 are achieved bythe resonance of the mass of fluid in fluid channels 162. The very highdamping characteristics for mount 110 are achieved by having sealedupper chamber 148 and sealed lower chamber 154 very large in relation tothe package size and also by the positive pumping action of mount 110.In each direction of motion of mount 110 (up and down as illustrated inFIG. 4) one of sealed upper chamber 148 or sealed lower chamber 154 israised to a higher pressure than the other chamber 148 or 154 leading tovery effective pumping of the fluid in fluid channels 162. It can beseen that as mount 110 is compressed, the load is supported by innertube 112, inner ring 116 and annular connector 114. This load increasesthe pressure in sealed lower chamber 154 and lowers the pressure insealed upper chamber 148 forcing fluid from sealed lower chamber 154through fluid channels 162 and into sealed upper chamber 148. In asimilar manner, when mount 110 is extended, inner tube 112, inner ring116 and annular connector 114 move upward increasing the pressure insealed upper chamber 148 and decreasing the fluid pressure in lowersealed chamber 154 forcing fluid from sealed upper chamber 148 throughfluid channels 162 and into sealed lower chamber 154. In this way, thefluid in fluid channels 162 is made to resonate as the upper surface ofinner tube 112 moves up and down in relation to the lower surface ofbottom cup 120.

The tuning for mount 110 is accomplished by changing the number,changing the cross-sectional area and changing the length of fluidchannels 162. Also, the design for the openings to sealed chambers 148and 154 can be used to affect the tuning for mount 110.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a mount in accordance with another embodimentof the present disclosure is indicated generally by the referencenumeral 210. Mount 210 comprises an inner tube 212, an annular connector214, an inner ring 216, an upper cup 218, a bottom cup 220, an outertube 222, an upper elastomeric spring 224, a lower elastomeric spring226, a channel retainer 228 and a channel ring 230.

Inner tube 212 comprises a cylindrical portion 240 and an annular flange242. The upper surface of annular flange 242 engages and supports theupper component such as the engine, the vehicle body or the subframebeing mounted to the lower component such as the frame or chassis of thevehicle. Cylindrical portion 240 is adapted to receive a mounting boltfor the bolt-through design for mount 210.

Annular connector 214 comprises a cylindrical portion 244 which engagescylindrical portion 240 of inner tube 212 and an annular portion 246which forms a portion of a sealed upper chamber 248 as discussed below.Inner ring 216 is disposed around cylindrical portion 244 of annularconnector 214 and is disposed between annular flange 242 of inner tube212 and annular portion 246 of annular connector 214. Inner ring 216helps to transfer the load of the upper component from inner tube 212 toannular connector 214 as discussed below. Inner tube 212, annularconnector 214 and inner ring 216 define an upper support member for theupper component.

Upper cup 218 is an annular member which encircles annular connector 214to also form a portion of upper chamber 248. Upper elastomeric spring224 is bonded to both inner ring 216 and upper cup 218 to complete theformation of upper chamber 248. Upper cup 218 includes an attachmentflange 250 which is formed around bottom cup 220 during the assembly ofmount 210. Bottom cup 220 comprises an annular portion 252 which forms aportion of a sealed lower chamber 254 and a cylindrical portion 256which engages outer tube 222. The lower surface of bottom cup 220engages and supports the lower component to which the upper component isbeing attached. The lower end of outer tube 222 is formed overcylindrical portion 256 of bottom cup 220 during the assembly of mount210. Upper cup 218, bottom cup 220 and outer tube 222 define a lowersupport member for the lower component.

Lower elastomeric spring 226 is bonded to outer tube 222 and is alsobonded to a retention ring 260 which engages bottom cup 220. Lowerelastomeric spring 226 completes the formation of sealed lower chamber254. Lower elastomeric spring 226 defines the one or more fluid channels62 which extend between upper sealed chamber 248 and lower sealedchamber 254. Similar to mount 10, mount 310 includes two fluid channels62. Channel retainer 228 is an annular member which is molded into lowerelastomeric spring 226 to provide support for fluid channels 62. Channelretainer 228 defines an attachment flange 264 which is formed overannular connector 214 during the assembly of mount 210. Upper port 66formed through annular portion 246 of annular connector 214 allowscommunication between a respective fluid channel 62 and upper sealedchamber 248. Similar to mount 10, mount 210 includes the two upper ports66. Lower port 68 formed through lower elastomeric spring 226 andchannel retainer 228 allows communication between a respective fluidchannel 62 and lower sealed chamber 254. Similar to mount 10, mount 210includes two lower ports 68. Thus, as illustrated in the figures, thereare two communication passages between sealed upper chamber 248 andsealed lower chamber 254. Each communication passage is formed by arespective upper port 66, a respective fluid channel 62 and a respectivelower port 68.

Sealed upper chamber 248 and sealed lower chamber 254 and fluid channels62 are filled with a fluid, preferably a liquid. The dampingcharacteristics for mount 10 are achieved by the resonance of the massof the fluid in fluid channels 62. The very high damping characteristicsof mount 210 are achieved by having sealed upper chamber 248 and sealedlower chamber 254 very large in relation to the package size and also bythe positive pumping action of mount 210. In each direction of motion ofmount 210 (up and down as illustrated in FIG. 6) one of sealed upperchamber 248 or sealed lower chamber 254 is raised to a higher pressurethan the other chamber 248 or 254 leading to very effective pumping ofthe fluid in fluid channels 62. The fluid flow for mount 210 is the sameas described above for mount 10.

Referring now to FIG. 6, channel ring 230 is disposed within sealedupper chamber 248 and is attached to upper cup 218 by having the end ofupper cup 218 formed over channel ring 230 during the assembly of mount210. Channel ring 230 provides for the radial damping by mount 210 whichis in addition to the axial damping described above.

Upper elastomeric spring 224 defines a first chamber 270 and a secondchamber 272 circumferentially spaced from first chamber 270. FIG. 6illustrates a one-hundred eighty degree circumferential spacing forfirst and second chambers 270 and 272 for purposes of illustration. Itis within the scope of the present disclosure to have a differentspacing for chambers 270 and 272 and also to have more than twointerconnecting chambers if the tuning of mount 210 requires it.

As illustrated, upper cup 218 defines a first port 274 opening intofirst chamber 270 and a second port 276 opening into second chamber 272.Channel ring 230 defines a fluid channel 278 which extends between firstport 274 and second port 276. Thus, first chamber 270 is incommunication with second chamber 272 through first port 274, fluidchannel 278 and second port 276.

During axial compression or extension of mount 210, both chambers 270and 272 will be compressed or extended since the upper elastomericspring 224 is attached to inner ring 216 which moves with inner tube 212and upper elastomeric spring 224 is also attached to upper cup 218 whichmoves with bottom cup 220. In this mode, there will be no movement ofthe fluid within chambers 270 and 272 or the fluid within fluid channel278 and therefore there will be no fluid flow or damping.

When inner tube 212 moves in a radial direction with respect to bottomcup 220, fluid will be forced from chamber 270 to chamber 272 or fromchamber 272 to chamber 270 depending on the radial direction. This flowof fluid through fluid channel 278 is made to resonate as mount 210vibrates from side to side and thus produces a damping load.

The tuning for mount 210 in the radial direction is accomplished bychanging the number, changing the cross-sectional area and changing thelength of fluid channels 278. Also, the design for ports 274 and 276 canbe used to affect the tuning for mount 210.

1. A mount comprising: an upper support member; a lower support membermovable with respect to the upper support member to define axialmovement of the mount; an upper elastomeric spring bonded to the uppersupport member and bonded to the lower support member, the upperelastomeric spring flexing during all axial movement of the mount; alower elastomeric spring attached directly to the upper support memberand bonded to the lower support member, the lower elastomeric springflexing during all axial movement of the mount; an upper chamber definedby the upper elastomeric spring; a lower chamber defined by the lowerelastomeric spring; and a channel extending between the upper chamberand the lower chamber.
 2. The mount according to claim 1 wherein theupper support member comprises an inner tube and an annular connectorattached to the inner tube.
 3. The mount according to claim 1 whereinthe lower support member comprises an upper cup and a lower cup attachedto the upper cup.
 4. The mount according to claim 3 wherein the upperelastomeric spring is bonded to the upper cup.
 5. The mount according toclaim 3 wherein the lower support member further comprises an outer tubeattached to the lower cup.
 6. The mount according to claim 5 wherein thelower elastomeric spring is bonded to the outer tube.
 7. The mountaccording to claim 6 wherein the upper elastomeric spring is bonded tothe upper cup.
 8. The mount according to claim 1 wherein the lowerelastomeric spring defines the channel.
 9. The mount according to claim8 further comprising a channel retainer disposed within the lowerelastomeric spring, the channel being disposed within the channelretainer.
 10. The mount according to claim 1 further comprising anapertured ring disposed within the lower elastomeric spring, theapertured ring defining a plurality of apertures extending between thelower chamber and the upper chamber.
 11. The mount according to claim 10further comprising a floating ring disposed adjacent the apertured ring,the floating ring controlling fluid flow through the plurality ofapertures.
 12. The mount according to claim 10 wherein at least two ofsaid plurality of apertures have a different size.
 13. The mountaccording to claim 10 further comprising a channel retainer disposedwithin the lower elastomeric spring, the apertured ring being disposedwithin the channel retainer.
 14. The mount according to claim 10 furthercomprising an annular channel ring disposed around the lower elastomericspring, the annular channel ring defining the channel.
 15. The mountaccording to claim 1 further comprising an annular channel ring disposedaround the lower elastomeric spring, the annular channel ring definingthe channel.
 16. The mount according to claim 1 wherein: the uppersupport member comprises an inner tube and an annular connector attachedto the inner tube; and the lower support member comprises an upper cupand a lower cup attached to the upper cup.
 17. The mount according toclaim 16 wherein the inner tube extends through the annular connector,the upper cup and the lower cup.
 18. The mount according to claim 16wherein the upper support member further comprises an inner ringdisposed between the inner tube and the annular connector.
 19. The mountaccording to claim 18 wherein the inner tube extends through the annularconnector, the upper cup, the lower cup and the inner ring.
 20. Themount according to claim 18 wherein the lower support member furthercomprises an outer tube attached to the lower cup.
 21. The mountaccording to claim 20 wherein the inner tube extends through the annularconnector, the upper cup, the lower cup, the inner ring and the outertube.
 22. The mount according to claim 16 wherein the lower supportmember further comprises an outer tube attached to the lower cup. 23.The mount according to claim 22 wherein the inner tube extends throughthe annular connector, the upper cup, the lower cup and the outer tube.24. The mount according to claim 1 further comprising: a first sidechamber defined by one of the upper and lower elastomeric springs; asecond side chamber defined by one of the upper and lower elastomericsprings; a side channel extending between said first and second sidechambers.
 25. The mount according to claim 24 wherein the first andsecond side chambers are defined by the upper elastomeric spring. 26.The mount according to claim 25 further comprising a channel ring, theside channel being formed by the channel ring.
 27. A mount comprising:an upper support member; a lower support member movable with respect tothe upper support member to define axial movement of the mount; an upperelastomeric spring bonded to the upper support member and bonded to thelower support member, the upper elastomeric spring flexing during allaxial movement of the mount; a lower elastomeric spring attached to theupper support member and bonded to the lower support member, the lowerelastomeric spring flexing during all axial movement of the mount; anupper chamber defined by the upper elastomeric spring; a lower chamberdefined by the lower elastomeric spring; and a channel extending betweenthe upper chamber and the lower chamber; wherein the upper supportmember comprises an inner tube and an annular connector attached to theinner tube; and the upper support member further comprises an inner ringdisposed between the inner tube and the annular connector.
 28. The mountaccording to claim 27 wherein the upper elastomeric spring is bonded tothe inner ring.